Verizon Wireless Customers can Rock Out With the Guitar Hero III Cellphone Game

Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, Hands-On Mobile, Inc., the world's leading developer of connected games and applications, and Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced the exclusive availability of the Guitar Hero III mobile game to Verizon Wireless customers.

Guitar Hero III Mobile allows rockers to jam anytime, anywhere to the same stunning graphics, high-quality audio and addictive gameplay that fans of the wildly popular console series have come to expect. Featuring four authentic guitars and three venues, the game challenges players to hit number keys in sync with colored notes that appear on a scrolling fret board.

Guitar Hero III for mobile offers 15 tracks from the Guitar Hero® console series, including "Suck My Kiss" (by Red Hot Chili Peppers) and "Rock You Like A Hurricane" (as made famous by The Scorpions), and offers Verizon Wireless customers the opportunity to expand their repertoire with new song packs that become available each month.

Verizon Wireless customers can purchase Guitar Hero III Mobile in the Get Fun & Games shopping aisle in the Get It Now® virtual store. It is available for $4.49 monthly access or $11.99 for unlimited use purchase. Verizon Wireless customers can get Guitar Hero III Mobile on an array of popular Get It Now-capable phones, including the MOTORIZR™ Z6tv, Chocolate™ by LG and the Verizon Wireless Gleam™ by Samsung. Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime or megabyte charges may apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now- enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.

For more information about Guitar Hero III Mobile please visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Epic Releases First User-Created Content for Unreal Tournament 3 on PS3!

Epic's Mark Rein sends word that they have released the first user-created content for the PS3 version of Unreal Tournament 3.

Epic Games is proud to take the first bold step in a new era! Today we're releasing the very first user-created content for Unreal Tournament 3 on PlayStation 3.

We're starting with a user-created map called DM-Shrine created by Thomas Browett, who goes by the name Setheran on the official UT3 forums. Thomas is a 23 year old graphic designer from Nottingham, England. He's been playing Unreal since the very first Unreal Tournament and he says he's enjoyed every game in the series. He made a few maps for the original Unreal Tournament but hadn't done anything since this one. He finds the third generation Unreal Editor to be very friendly and feature rich.

DM-Shrine is is a great little map that's perfect those close-quarters, 2-6 player, matches that keep your adrenaline pumping from beginning to end. A lot of our DM maps in UT3 are designed for larger player counts so this provides a great contrast and a chance to play in a more intimate setting. I've always loved these types of maps and I hope you folks do as well!

Here is how to install UT3 mods on your PlayStation 3.

1. Unzip the file to the root directory of any memory card that is readable by your PlayStation 3. It is already in the proper directory structure but, just in case, the path and filename need to be: ps3\savedata\blus30086-modimport\userdata.jam

2. Boot up Unreal Tournament 3 on your PS3

3. Go to the "Community" menu

4. Choose "My Content"

5. Press the [SQUARE] button to "Import Mod"

6. Follow the directions on the screen to import it from your memory card.

Once imported you'll be able to see the map in your list of Deathmatch maps. You'll be able to host the map and join servers that are hosting the map. All UT3 mods install this same way. If this were a mutator it would show up in the mutator list. If it were a gametype it would show up in gametype lists, etc.

This is just the first little taste of modding on Unreal Tournament 3 for PS3.

Epic didn't make this map. Thomas did and he already released it for PC users of UT3. We didn't do any editing or changes to it. All we did was bring it into the editor and "cook" it into the proper format for the PlayStation 3 and tested it to make sure it ran properly and was good fun. We're waiting on some paperwork from Sony that will allow us to release an editor update so mod creators can do this cook process for themselves. We expect to have that very soon.

Tomorrow we're planning to release some more user-created content: a mutator, a couple more maps, and a new game type!

We have some really cool things of our own in the works (for both PC and PS3 versions of UT3) here at Epic but those are still in development so they're a little further down the road.

Download from FileFront (17.4 MB) NOW

Source: Planet Unreal at GameSpy

New Trailer for Turok video game - more Dinosaurs

Watch the trailer on FileFront here...
WARNING TRAILER CONTAINS VIOLENCE

The newest trailer for Turok shows off one of the main things the franchise is known for: taking out dinosaurs in the most brutal way possible.

How brutal? Well, most of the clips in this shot show Turok scrambling his way onto a dino’s back to stab it in the head.

And another has him reaching around to slit one’s throat.

Basically, just shooting them is sooooo last decade.

Call of Duty 4 Nintendo DS Review

First Person Shooters have been a rare treat for DS gamers, probably due to the extra efforts the developers have to put in. But Activision have overcome that hurdle resulting in the next instalment of the Call of Duty series: Modern Warfare. For a DS game, the graphics are amazing with everything looking so clear and sharp, handling explosions and fires especially well.

It was a disappointing surprise to discover that online play was non-existent as Call of Duty would seem to be the perfect game for it. However, there are more than enough multiplayer modes which I will come onto later but excluding that you're just left with the main campaign mode. It took me just under 8 hours to complete but thankfully a Medium and Hard mode have been added causing a noticeable upgrade in difficulty.



The controls in place work extremely well, simply using the D-Pad to move around and the touch-screen to aim like previous shooters have done. To get those valuable headshots you'll need to double-tap on the touch screen so your gun zooms in. Accuracy is quite an important thing to consider as without getting headshots enemies can take quite a bit of battering before falling. Changing weapons is done via the touch-screen as well as completing actions such as picking up a gun or calling in air support.

The enemy AI is fairly advanced when compared to other DS games having them grab you if you get to close and throwing grenades if you're in range however there seems to be an issue with enemies staying rooted to the same point, no matter how close you get. Although, due to your soldier having a regenerating shield rather than health, as I did you'll probably stick to 'hit and run' tactics instead of stealth.


'Mini-games' are located throughout the campaign missions, the completion of each needed for progression in the game. A common one which pops up frequently is diffusing a bomb where you have to trace wires with the stylus or instead cracking a code by finishing a maze-like puzzle. There's also the chance to control a machine gun mounted on a back of a moving truck and to call in an air strike on enemy territory which all come up at points throughout the campaign mode.

Once you're into the game, like myself, you'll probably start thinking about the multi-player options just before you rush off to find another friend who owns it. Activision have certainly made sure you won't be short of game modes as free-for-all, hunter, team deathmatch and capture-the-flag are all there making an appearance allowing 2-4 player matches. Even better, there's a single-cart mode which allows up to 4 player free-for-all even if your friend doesn't own the game. Sadly, online isn't there and would have for sure turned this great game into a must-have for DS owners, but at least this leaves us with something to hope for future Call of Duty additions.

But what has impressed me most about Modern Warfare, is the work that has been put into the sound and voice which creates a much more realistic atmosphere and allowing characters issuing you instructions to sound crystal clear, you'll see what we mean if you click for the trailer below.

So Activision have added another game to the small collection of first-person shooters for DS but Call of Duty, comes out top for graphics and controls with lack of online being the only real disappointment. If you're a fan of the series you probably won't need my convincing to go out and buy it, but if you're an average gamer looking for maybe a Christmas gift or just a reason to clear the dust off of your system then Call of Duty is it.

Watch the game trailer video here...

Overall:
Best shooter for the DS yet with great graphics and sound however lacking online is a big disappointment.

Fun: 8.5 | Value: 6 | Overall: 8

Source: Nintencast

Downloadable content for Nintendo Wii Guitar Hero III early 2008

It's now been confirmed that next year downloadable content will start to become available for the Wii Guitar Hero III in a letter from Red Octane.

Naturally, it's highly likely they'll only be used to download new songs however I guess this could be for a range of things such as new arenas and characters.

It's pretty indefinite that they're not going to be free and instead sold for Wii Points but I wouldn't be too surprised if they threw in a free track such as the Zelda theme tune like they have done for the Xbox.

We've got a fashionably late full review coming really soon of GHIII so stay tuned for that and you can check out exactly what the letter says below:

Hello,

Thank you for writing us.

Downloadable content for the Wii is something we are working very hard on getting in place for the new year. There is no definite timetable in place but we are hoping it will be soon.

Regards,

RedOctane Customer Support.

Things are certainly looking good in terms of online for the Wii.

Lets hope for downloadable content in future games now it's been done, maybe for extra stages in Smash Bros. Brawl.

Source: Nintencast

Luffy’s next video adventure game is split into two parts

EvilGamerX’s comment (thanks for the tip!) about Namco Bandai’s next One Piece game prompted me to poke around for more information.

The project’s temporary name is One Piece Unlimited Adventure 2, its final name is One Piece: Unlimited Cruise.

Also Namco Bandai is going the .hack route with the pirate crew.

There are two parts to One Piece: Unlimited Cruise. Episode one is scheduled to arrive in Japan in Summer ’08, episode two is slated for Winter ’08.

Neither is confirmed for North America, we’re still waiting on One Piece: Unlimited Adventure to arrive in January ’08.

OK. Now we know more about One Piece: Unlimited Cruise, but now there is a new burning question.

Why are there two episodes?

Are we going to see original gameplay in each installment or did someone chop the game up?

From Silconera

Microsoft reminds families their Xbox 360 games consul is for kids too

Microsoft is extending their family friendly stance to Japan. On December 15, they held a Merry Christmas event at Tokyo Bay. Kids could meet the characters from Viva Piñata and try out a handful of CERO A video games like Beautiful Katamari. While I doubt many kids recognized Hudson Horstachio, Microsoft is trying to capture another niche. This strategy worked well for CERO Z games, which are starting to pick up in Japan.

However, Microsoft faces a problem when it comes to attracting families. Many multiplatform kid’s games like Cars never get an Xbox 360 release in Japan. THQ tends to only support the Wii and PlayStation when it comes to Disney games and few Japanese developers are making child friendly exclusives.

Source: Siliconera

Sin City video game will use Unreal Engine 3

Red Mile Entertainment has announced that they have licensed the Unreal Engine 3 from Epic Games for their Sin City video game…and that’s pretty much it. No new info on what the player might be doing or which of the many storylines the game will use. I mean, seriously, do we get to play as Marv at least? Is there going to be a genital-ripping mini-game?

“The Unreal Engine is one of the most technically advanced engines on the market and is a perfect fit for our Sin City video games,” said Glenn Wong, president and COO for Red Mile. “The engine has powered several of the best-selling games of all time and I am very glad we have the opportunity to arm our developers with such a world-class product.”

Well at least we know the game will probably look pretty slick. As much as I love the Sin City movie and comic books, I’m a little hesitant about seeing it turned into a video game. Usually movies and TV shows with a heavy plot and sparse action don’t translate too well into a good game (see Reservoir Dogs, The Sopranos: Road to Respect).

Source: FileFront/Press Release

WolfQuest - 3D multiplayer wildlife simulation video game download launched

The Minnesota Zoo and St. Paul-based eduweb, award-winning developer of digital learning games, are excited to announce the world premiere and public launch of "WolfQuest," an immersive, 3D multiplayer, wildlife simulation game, Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 6:30 p.m., Central Standard Time. The game will be available as a free download for Macintosh and Windows computers at http://www.wolfquest.org/.

"WolfQuest represents a new breed of video game-one that marries state of the art game design with scientifically accurate wolf content," says Grant Spickelmier, assistant director of education at the Minnesota Zoo.

Learn about wolf ecology by living the life of a wild wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Play alone or with friends in on-line multiplayer missions, explore the wilderness, hunt elk, and encounter stranger wolves in your quest to find a mate. In future episodes, your success will depend on forming a family pack, raising pups, and ensuring the survival of your pack.

The Minnesota Zoo leads a national network of zoos and science education centers including the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, Yellowstone National Park, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. and the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona. Each institution will publicize the project to current and expanded audiences in its region.

The WolfQuest experience goes beyond the game with an active on-line community where you can discuss the game with other players, chat with wolf biologists, and share artwork and stories about wolves.

WolfQuest is made possible through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) of more than a half-million dollars, with local support provided by Best Buy Children's Foundation.

Future episodes of WolfQuest will be released in 2008. For more information and updates about WolfQuest, visit http://www.wolfquest.org/.

The Minnesota Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.

PC game checker Can You Run It? - compatibility check website

What it does

This site provides a One-Click solution that looks at your computer's hardware and system software to determine whether or not your current system can run a product. Each of your computer's components is evaluated to see how well it meets the minimum and recommended requirements for specific products. Recommendations are made on how to update or upgrade each component which does not meet the listed requirements. Sometimes, a simple, free software download is all that is needed. Sometimes you'll find that you need a different video card to fully experience what the game has to offer.

• Get your complete report in seconds including suggestions for what to upgrade on your computer.


• Only your system's hardware and system software are evaluated.


• No personally identifiable information is collected.


• Works on Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Media Center, Vista.


• Works with Internet Explorer, Firefox & Netscape browsers.


• You will need to give your permission to download a secure ActiveX/Java browser component.


• You can easily uninstall the ActiveX/Java browser component when the analysis is complete.

Games added:

Age of Conan-BETA
Bee Movie
BioShock
Call of Duty 4
Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars
Company of Heroes: Opposing Forces
Conflict: Denied Ops
Crysis
DiRT
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Empire Earth III
Fantasy Wars
Fury
Gears of War
Guitar Hero III
Half-Life 2 Orange Box
Hellgate: London
Heroes V: Tribes of the East
Jericho
Kane & Lynch
Madden 08
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek
Need for Speed Pro Street
NWN2: Mask of Betrayer
NBA Live 08
NHL 08
Pro Cycling Mgr 2007
RACE 07
Rugby 08
SimCity Societies
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Stranglehold
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
Tabula Rasa
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Lord of the Rings Online
The Settlers
The Sims 2 Bon Voyage
The Witcher
Tiger Woods PGA 08
TimeShift
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Unreal Tournament III
World in Conflict
WOW Burning Crusade
And loads more...

Check it out here... http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest